Opinion
No. 06-15-00105-CV
12-28-2015
THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE BEST INTEREST AND PROTECTION OF H.S.
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2 Hunt County, Texas
Trial Court No. M-11179 Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ. ORDER
H.S. appeals from a December 17, 2015, order authorizing the administration of psychoactive medication. H.S.'s notice of appeal was filed December 21, 2015, the clerk's record was filed with this Court December 22, 2015, and the reporter's record was filed December 23, 2015. The Texas Health and Safety Code requires that mental health commitment appeals be given absolute priority over all other cases and authorizes this Court to adjust the briefing deadlines and docketing timetables to achieve that end. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 574.070(e) (West 2010).
The typewritten dates on the order authorizing the administration of psychoactive medication suggest that the order was signed on December 7, 2015; however, we believe the circumstances establish that the order was actually signed by the trial court on December 17, 2015. Should either party contest the signature date, such contest should be included as an issue in that party's briefing.
H.S. appeals from a contemporaneously entered order committing H.S. to a state mental health facility for extended in-patient mental health services not to exceed ninety days under our cause number 06-15-00104-CV. --------
Due to the accelerated nature of this appeal, we establish the following briefing schedule for this matter: (1) the appellant's brief to be received by this Court on or before January 7, 2016, and (2) the appellee's brief to be received by this Court on or before January 15, 2016. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 574.070(e). No extensions of time will be granted.
The parties are further notified that, pursuant to Section 574.070(e) of the Texas Health and Safety Code, the case will be submitted, without oral argument, to the panel of Chief Justice Josh R. Morriss, III, Justice Bailey C. Moseley, and Justice Ralph K. Burgess one day after the appellee's brief is filed.
IT IS SO ORDERED
BY THE COURT Date: December 28, 2015